Know your weaknesses! Yeah, it's bloody freezing.

British Cyclo Cross - National Trophy Round 4 Southampton Sports Centre

Me, Today at Southampton, Kevin Knox in blue chasing
Pic: www.grahamrobins.net

Here we are again, Southampton, one of my favourite courses and always great for National events. But no mud!! Who took all the mud away? The sports centre incorporates two areas suitable for cylclo cross courses, one on the cricket and football pitches side, and one on the ski slope side. I've raced the ski slope side (not on the actual slope in case you wondered) in frozen conditions but only ever in mud on the other side to the centre which is always used for bigger events. The temperature was struggling to reach 2degrees and all that was missing was the snow that seemed to have fallen everywhere else in the country.

A very early get up (5.30 for the 6.55 ferry from Yarmouth) on a day like today isn't nice, but at least I only had to drive up to Southampton. I'm sponsored by Wightlink Ferries, so Red Funnel is out of the question, in this case a bit of a pain. I arrived at the sports centre at about 8.20 so had a  couple of hours to prepare. First of all I took a bit of a walk around; still cold, then I got the bike ready, changed and went for a warm up lap; still cold. Two laps later my fingers had just about warmed up and that was with long fingered wind cheater gloves.

The course was great, not a lot different to normal, but a bit of a novelty in frozen conditions. It was clear that the corners might get a little slippery after a few laps when we had all dug in, but apart from that, it seemed pretty straightforward. The sports centre is based on the side of a hill so most of the time you are either going up or down. The hills aren't a problem but it does mean the more powerful rider, especially in these conditions, will have a bit of an advantage.

Southampton has always suited my style of riding, which is based more on speed and power rather than technique, so I was confident of at least a good start. Once again I aimed for a top ten as I did at Abergavenny. Having just won three Wessex events in a row means nothing in a race like this as most of the top contenders are all league race winners around the country, and with Riders like Darren Atkins, Chris Young, Noel Clough and  Matt Denby in attendance, things are never going to be straightforward. That's not taking into consideration 15-20 or so other 'names'

Sean Williams (Wightlink/Offshore RT)
National Trophy Round 4
Southampton
Pic: www.grahamrobins.net

Thanks to my national ranking, I managed to get on the third row of the grid, a couple of riders behind Darren Atkins. This was good, I could keep my eye on him and the others. I got a good start coming out of the second turn into the short climb at the copse. I had made my way into the top six, just behind Chris Young. This was only a few minutes into the race and I thought if I sat on Young's wheel for a bit, he'd drag me through, but he seemed to be going quite slow and my inexperience at national level showed as I went by him. He's pretty Wiley is Chris Young, I didn't even see him come back past me, but going into the copse on lap two I saw him a few bike lengths ahead. Oh well, I was still in contention. But then it all went a little pear shaped. Attacking over the top of the copse drag, the riders ahead all pulled clear of me, I couldn't push it any harder and dropped back to about 9th or 10th. I'd lost count of position now and was panicking a little as the gap grew out.

Not far behind me and chasing strongly were Jonathon Watson and Tony Green, I could see another three riders not far behind them including Gary Allen, but thankfully the gap behind them was quite large so I knew that as long as I held on I'd finish in the top twelve at least. I just needed to calm down a bit, and a lap later the Watson,Green duo caught me and the three of us rode together for a lap. At this point we were about halfway through the race, Atkins was clear at the front with Young, Roach, Denby and Clough chasing (not necessarily in that order). The riders between them and my group  were spread out with Kevin Knox and Keith Sheridan not far ahead. It was at this point I started to feel good again.

I put in a few digs to break our trio up and set about chasing Sheridan and Knox who seemed to be coming back just a little bit. Then coming into the finishing straight with two laps to go I passed a running Matt Denby.  Fortunately for him, quite close the pits. This urged me on a little as I knew that he'd be chasing hard once he made his bike change. In the process I caught Knox, and Sheridan wasn't an impossible catch (although fairly unlikely)

The last lap was quite dramatic from my race point of view. Denby first caught Knox and then me with about half a lap to go on the back straight, which was annoying, but he was on a mission to get his place back after his mechanical. Coming into the last few twists and turns, Knox put a surge in and caught back to me. I should have fought harder to hold my place but he came past, and into the tarmac drag to the finish he gained about two bike lengths on me and saw me coming up fast, sprinting for the line. He just pipped me. At this stage I think I may have been 9th,10th or 11th but closer to the riders ahead than I was in the first round.

Result (so far)

Veteran 40+
1. Darren Atkins (Series Leader)
2. Chris Young
3. Phil Roach

After the Abergavenny National Trophy and now this one I can now see where my major weakness lies; holding the pace after the fast start I seem to be able to manage, matching the faster guys. Time for some more intervals I think. The pain never ceases in this game.

South of England Champs next week.